Itching

[Sailorsong]

For about a year I have had this rash, for lack of a better word, just above my right ankle, I say lack of a better word as I think it is really a result of scratching the area that it has this roughness and redness constantly. I have shown it to my PC and she doesn't know what it is but has me using combination of Hydrocodone and athletes foot cream on it  during this period. But recently it has started to spread, first the back of my calf and now the inner side above my ankle.

So now I am beginning to wonder if this is just another symptom of my MS (which I should bring up to my Neuro ) or not. The reason I am think this are as follows:

1) The creams don't really sooth the itching at all nor does it heal the areas....It just goes away after 3-4 hours on it's own and lasts over several weeks at a time on an almost daily basis.

2) The itching comes and goes every few months or so even though I have been using the creams daily. it seems like if it was an environmental issue the creams would stop it from coming back.

3) During the periods that the itch is happening when I take a shower as soon as the water hits the area the itching will start up.

4) For the most part all of my MS symptoms are related to the right side of my body and visible lesions are in left side of my brain.  

So what do you all think?

Dennis

[Ojibajo]

This is an interesting post, because recently on my hands I broke out with what I thought was ring worm so I bought the ring worm cream and it got more red and spread up my arms. My doctor said it was contact dermatitis from an allergic reaction. I am putting a prescription steroid cream on it. It is the same one that I use on my eczema. For a while it was looking like I needed a steroid shot. I also have a small patch on the arch of my foot, but I usually have a reoccurring eczema patch there. Now it is looking much better and looks more like my regular eczema. It's still itchy but not nearly as itchy as it was a few days ago and it is much less welted up.  I also started eating yogurt in case it was yeast since I have been on antibiotics. I don't know if any of this info is helpful to you or now. Good Luck!

[Sailorsong]

I guess I wasn't too clear about what has been going on.

It isn't a rash that is spreading, but the area that itches.

The rash like area started out as a circle about the size of a half dollar about 2 inches above my right ankle on the outside of my leg. I didn't notice the rash like area until after one particularly maddening itching session when I noticed blood on my finger tips after scratching.  Since then it has gotten a little larger and more of an oblong shape about the size of a silver dollar. The area has a reddish color to it and feels rough, though it doesn't look rough at all.  I think this is just due to the scratching damaging my skin.

Then about 2 months ago the back side on my calf started into this maddening itching covering an area of about 1 - 1.5 feet in length. (basically the entire length of my calf ).  There is no sign of a rash, eczema, or any thing else wrong with the skin.  It is this area that is prone to starting up one of these maddening itching sessions as soon as water from my shower hitting the area.

Finally 1 month ago the itching started on the inside of my leg exactly opposite of the original itchy area. Though this area extends down across my ankle and about 1/2 way toward the base of my foot.

Dennis  

[summerluvr]

have you ever had excema?  Do you (or your family) have allergies, asthma etc?  Is your rash reddish, flaky, scaly, whitish with hard to define borderes?  

Unfortunatly excema is hard to get rid off, and the more you itch the more it spreads. And it likes to appear around joints.  If you have any circulation issues with your ankles (like swelling) it makes them more prone.

Not sure if it's related to MS, but it's pretty common, and annoying!  You are right the creams don't really seem to get rid of it, but they do lesson the itch and the burning feeling a bit. you could also try antihistamines, like benedryl.

now that it's winter here I have excema flaired up. Of all places it's in between a few fingers, and the back of my elbow.

Natural supplements like Omega something or other (not sure if it's 3 6 or 9) is supposed to help. You could try fish oil but I've not been able to take this because it give me acne. This applies more to hands, but try keep the area dry so  are not washing away all the natural skin oils. I also like to use a barrier silicone cream (it's called Barriere and from the baby section of the drug store in a little pink tube) to protect it from getting more dried out.

[maxthecat9196]

This might sound silly, but have you checked to see if you are having a reaction to fragrances?  I get a similar patch on one of my knees.  For me, it usually means I have to get all perfumes out of my life. Even so called "unscented" products have a masking fragrance.  

Forgive me, I am still new but I have never heard of lesions causing an actual rash.  I know it can cause itching and other odd sensations though.  

Tammy